Afghanistan Preview

Scotland will begin their warm up matches in Dubai today, as they prepare to play Afghanistan in an important series in their bid to qualify for the 2015 World Cup and 2013 Intercontinental Cup final.

The team flew out on Tuesday and had the chance to blow a few cobwebs away following the long haul flight. There was a real feeling of excitement amongst the players at the airport.

With the Afghanistan team currently preparing for the series with a training camp in Pakistan, Scotland will play the Emirates Cricket Board Blues in three 50 over warm up matches.

It is understood that the first fixture today will be used as an opportunity to try a variety of things and give the players sometime in the middle and the chance to bowl as a unit to allow the coaching staff to assess their options ahead of what Gordon Drummond described as ‘massive’ cricket matches for national team.

Speaking from the Scotland base in Dubai, Strength and Conditioning coach, Simon Smith said the players had begun their preperations well, “We spent the first day working on aerobic work to stretch out the legs, with Thursday and Friday consisting of some tough net and fielding sessions at the Global Cricket Academy.

We had the Merlin to give the batters a work out and the brilliant array of lanes, simulating conditions from Islamabad in Pakistan to the WACA in Australia. You can see why so many international teams choose to prepare here for various tours around the world – it’s a magnificent facility. The players are happy to be outdoors again and are looking forward to stepping up their preperations today..”